玉米O2/o2近等基因系胚乳中基因表达差异分析

对玉米Hz85(O2/O2)和 Hz85(o2/o2)以及S7913(O2/O2)和 S7913 (o2/o2)两种不同核背景下的近等基因系(NIL),采用cDNA芯片杂交技术研究玉米o2突变基因及赖氨酸形成和胚乳发生相关基因在RNA水平上的表达差异。在两套NILs中检测到共同的表达差异克隆87个,对其序列分析得到26个TUGs（tentative unique genes）、11个未命名蛋白和6个新序列。这些TUGs分别参与了生长发育、胁迫响应、物质运输、信号转导、电子传递链、细胞防御、代谢等细胞过程,以及作为细胞组分和贮存蛋白。基于O2/o2 NILs间胚乳发育中基因表达的差异,讨论了o2籽粒中的不透明粉质胚乳形成的分子机制。     

GABA_B受体变构剂药学研究进展

γ-氨基丁酸B受体（GABAB receptor,GABABR）是最具有药理学意义的药物靶点之一,具有复杂而精细的激活机制。传统的GABABR靶点药物开发集中于激动剂和拮抗剂,这类药物受到多种因素的制约,包括较强的副作用、药物代谢困难、机体耐药性明显等。变构剂结合于正构位点之外,能够调节GABABR异源二聚体亚基或结构域间的相互作用。正向变构剂（positiveallosteric modulators,PAMs）和负向变构剂（negative allosteric modulators,NAMs）分别可以提高或降低GABABR的活性,并具有较高的特异性和药物安全性,同时还能够保持GABABR信号在时间和空间上的可控性。变构剂为GABABR靶点药物开发提供了新思路。     

湖南沅江鼎城段河蚬的性别组成与精子形态特征

本研究以湖南沅江鼎城段河蚬(Corbicula fluminea)为研究对象,在进一步验证该群体性别组成的基础上,分析壳长组成与性别比例之间关系,探讨该群体雄性、雌性和雌雄同体之间关系;同时以单鞭毛精子为参照,分析比较双鞭毛精子的形态特征,以期为我国河蚬的性别发生及生殖适应策略研究提供基础资料。结果显示：沅江鼎城段河蚬(n = 770)雄性、雌性和雌雄同体最小性成熟壳长分别为2.92 mm、5.66 mm和5.30 mm。697只性成熟河蚬中雄性、雌性和雌雄同体的比例近似1︰1︰6。雌雄同体的平均壳长[(22.55 ± 0.33)mm,n = 517]显著大于雄性[(20.44 ± 1.03)mm,n = 95]和雌性[(19.79 ± 0.99)mm,n = 85](P < 0.05),但雄性与雌性的平均壳长之间差异不显著(P > 0.05)。河蚬可以产生单鞭毛和双鞭毛两种类型的精子,单鞭毛精子头长范围4.93 ~ 21.79 μm,平均值(14.27 ± 0.82)μm(n = 30),双鞭毛精子头长范围10.29 ~ 22.04 μm,平均值(15.62 ± 0.62)μm(n = 26)。单、双鞭毛精子头长差异不显著(P > 0.05)。双鞭毛精子(n = 26)长尾的平均长度[(38.07 ± 1.44)μm]显著大于其短尾[(31.08 ± 1.60)μm]和单鞭毛精子(n = 30)尾部长度[(30.15 ± 1.75)μm](P < 0.01),但其短尾与单鞭毛精子的尾部平均长度之间无显著性差异(P > 0.05)。结果表明：湖南沅江鼎城段河蚬为雄性先熟,且可能存在雄性和(或)雌性向雌雄同体转换现象。河蚬具有单鞭毛型和双鞭毛型2种类型的精子,且双鞭毛精子的2个尾部不等长。同域共存河蚬的单鞭毛与双鞭毛精子在运动及受精能力方面的差异值得深入研究。     

机体胆汁酸肠-肝轴的研究进展

机体肠道与肝脏间的交互作用形成肠-肝轴,后者的紊乱是肝脏疾病发生的重要原因,而良好的肠道稳态和肝脏的保护对维持机体内环境的稳定起着重要作用。胆汁酸(胆盐)作为肠-肝轴循环中的重要组成成分,不仅参与了机体营养物质的消化代谢,还作为一种信号分子和代谢调节因子,能够激活核受体和G蛋白偶联受体(GPCR)信号通路参与调节肝脏脂质、葡萄糖和能量平衡,维持机体代谢平衡。本文将结合近年来有关胆汁酸的研究进展,从胆汁酸的来源、在肠-肝轴中的循环以及胆汁酸在机体中的作用等方面进行综述,以加深对肠-肝轴重要性的理解。     

好氧反硝化生物脱氮技术的研究进展

好氧反硝化生物脱氮技术自提出以来,凭借能实现同步硝化反硝化、节省基建投资及运行费用等诸多优点,受到国内外环境领域学者的广泛关注。本文首先总结了近年来好氧反硝化菌种的筛选分离情况,以及环境因子对好氧反硝化菌脱氮效能的影响,包括溶解氧(dissolved oxygen,DO)、碳氮比(C/N)、温度等。然后深入探讨了好氧反硝化生物脱氮技术的原理,好氧反硝化过程中的关键功能基因及酶,同时介绍了分子生物技术在好氧反硝化研究过程中的应用,以及好氧反硝化生物脱氮技术在实际应用方面的研究现状。最后,基于目前的研究瓶颈问题,对未来好氧反硝化生物脱氮技术的研究方向提出了科学展望。     

基于最大熵模型预测气候变化下河蚬在中国的潜在分布

河蚬是一类在我国广泛分布的底栖贝类,具有重要的经济价值及生态价值。近年来,河蚬野生资源量锐减,了解河蚬在国内的潜在分布能为河蚬的保护和合理利用提供重要参考。基于河蚬在中国的136个分布点和8个环境因子,采用ENMeval包和biasfile优化后的最大熵模型(MaxEnt)预测分别河蚬现代和未来(2041—2060年和2081—2100年) 6个气候情景下的潜在分布。综合Jackknife检验、置换重要值和环境因子贡献率评估影响现代河蚬潜在分布的主要因子,比较未来气候情景下潜在适生区差异从而分析预测河蚬适宜分布的变化。结果表明：(1)优化后的MaxEnt模型预测准确度极高,平均AUC值为0.900±0.037,平均AUC_DIFF值为0.019,现代河蚬潜在分布区域总面积为188.33×10⁴ km²,主要集中在长江流域、海河流域、淮河流域、珠江流域、东南沿海区域以及黄河流域下游和渤海湾沿岸区域。(2)影响河蚬潜在分布的主要环境因子为海拔、温度(年均温和温度年较差)和降水(年降水量)。(3)在未来6种气候情景下,河蚬主要潜...     

Molecular and chemical characterization of the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen and its role in the virulence of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8

The Y. enterocolitica O:8 (YeO8) O-antigen repeat units consist of five sugar residues: N-acetyl- d -galactosamine (GalNAc), d -galactose (Gal), d -mannose (Man), l -fucose (Fuc), and 6-deoxy- d -gulose (6d-Gul). The nucleotide sequence of the O-antigen gene cluster of the YeO8 strain 8081-c was determined. Altogether, 18 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified and shown to be essential for O-antigen biosynthesis. We previously characterized the 3'-end of the O-antigen gene cluster and identified four genes: two for GDP-Man biosynthesis, one for UDP-Gal biosynthesis, and one for O-antigen polymerase. Based on sequence similarity, Tn 5 -insertion phenotypes and chemical analysis, the 14 new genes were assigned the following functions: four genes are involved in the biosynthesis of CDP-6d-Gul and two in GDP-Fuc biosynthesis. Five gene products were assigned sugar transferase functions and one gene product was similar to Wzx, the O-antigen flippase. Two genes remained unassigned. By genetic complementation we also showed that YeO8 O-antigen biosynthesis was dependent on N-acetyl-glucosaminyl:undecaprenylphosphate transferase (GlcNAc transferase), the WecA (formerly known as Rfe) protein. Data obtained from chemical-composition analysis suggest that in addition to being GlcNAc transferase, WecA may also function as a GalNAc transferase. Using a restriction-deficient derivative of Y. enterocolitica O:8 strain 8081, a rough mutant, designated 8081-R2, was isolated. 8081-R2 was complemented in trans with a cloned O-antigen gene cluster restoring surface O-antigen expression. The virulence of the wild-type strain and that of the complemented strain were significantly higher (approx. 100-fold) than that of the rough mutant in an orally infected mouse model, showing that YeO8 O-antigen is a virulence factor.     

The immunological status of breast cancer patients during treatment with a new antiestrogen,toremifene

Summary The immune status of breast cancer patients was followed during antiestrogen treatment for at least 1 year or until progression of the disease. Twelve postmenopausal women with advanced estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer were treated with a novel antiestrogen, toremifene. Immune functions were determined before the start of the treatment and at 3, 6, and 12 months. For NK cell cytotoxicity testing there were 74 healthy controls and for T cell subset measurements 28 healthy controls. No statistically significant changes in the T cell subsets or NK cell cytotoxicity were observed during treatment. However, throughout toremifene treatment patients had fewer CD4 cells (T helper lymphocytes) than did the controls. Cancer patients had higher pretreatment B cell values than the controls,P = 0.01, but during the first months of toremifene treatment B cell values decreased and remained within the normal range thereafter. A positive effect on mitogen-stimulation tests with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (ConA) was observed during the first months of treatment (P = 0.01 for PHA and 0.03 for log [ConA] and a stabilization at the higher level thereafter. These results indicate that toremifene has a stimulatory effect on cell-mediated immunity in breast cancer patients.     

Trimethoprim resistance in Finland after five years' use of plain trimethoprim.

A total of 1388 urinary bacterial pathogens were tested for resistance to plain trimethoprim after five years'' use of this drug for prophylaxis against urinary tract infections. Samples were obtained in Turku, Finland, where use of the drug is much greater than in other parts of Finland. Resistance to trimethoprim (greater than 8 mg/l; agar-dilution method) occurred in 20.3% of strains isolated from outpatients and 39.8% of strains isolated from inpatients. Escherichia coli and Micrococcus showed low incidences of resistance (11% and 13% respectively in ouptatients and 23% and 19% respectively in inpatients); Enterobacter, Streptococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus epidermidis occupied an intermediate position; and Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella were resistant in 41-76% of cases. Similar incidences of resistance were observed to sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim, sulphamethoxazole, ampicillin, and nitrofurantoin. These findings together with the rare occurrence of side effects and convenient dosage confirm the usefulness of plain trimethoprim for urinary tract infection.